Resilient vehicle wheel



J. MCLAUGHLIN. HESILIENT VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED -/UG- 26,1918.

Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

v`- aan' @Vianini f mirri- 1D,STATES rA'raNr,or`ificaf two first nameddiscs and shieldingthe re-- silient members and operative parts 'fromJOSEPH MOLAUGHLIN, OF FORDWICH, ONTARIOLCANADA.

RESILIENT VEHICLE HEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application ledAugust 26, 1918. Serial No. 251,387.

This invention relates to improvements in` n resilient vehicle wheelsand is a continuation as to all common subject matter. `of U. S.application No. 67 ,448, filedDecember 17,1915. The'inventionconsists'of a novel construction and arrangementv of parts providing aplurality of radially disposed spring restrained plungers within thewheel rim, normally in engagement-with the centralhub member, wherebythe wheel rim may float relative to the hub.` The new and novel featuresof the invention reside in the l construction of a hub member withoppositely disposed discs on opposite ends thereof and a second'pair ofdiscs peripherally engaging the inner circle of the wheel rim, thesecond discs being overlapped bv the dirt'. Further novel feature oftheinvention is involved in the construction of the'plungers andspringreceptacles and the particular construction ofthe members supporting theplungers, and further in the provision of a nove] driving member betweenrthe wheel rim and the discs connected with the hub, the general objectbeing to provide a resilient vehicle -wheel that is lightin weight andcomparatively simple and inexpensive inconstruction, whereby the usual.inflatable tire may be dispensed with.

These several features and other objects of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in theaccompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of awheelembodving lmy invention. y

Fig. 2 is a lside view of the wheel with the plates removed. l

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line m-w of Fig. 1, showing the discsin position and method ofconnection of the inner discs with,

the hub'.n.eeniloer.k

Patented Aug. 2a, v1922;. i

4 is an enlarged detail figure showing I the plunger and construction ofthe supporting parts therefor.

Fig.l 5 is a detail vin perspective. of the` bracket utilized finforming vthe spring and 5 plunger receptacles.

Fig.`6 is a detail the plungers.

Fig. 7 is a plan `viewlofgpart of the s Fig. 8 vis aside view of Figi 7.

in perspective of one ofi used at each end of the drivingconnectio'nbetween the rim and disc on the hub.

Fig. 10 is a detail showing a means pre-y venting the entrance of dustor'I dirt'` i interior of the wheel.

The wheel rim l has secured to theinnei'A surface thereof 'a series of Vshaped'brackets 2 indicated in detailA in 'TheseV brackets are formed offiat metal stripsy and y extend toward the center vof the wheel' withthe leg of one bracket paralleljwith the leg of the adjacent bracket,the two legs 'thusj providing receptacles for coiled'I spring The outerends ofthe legs are inwafrdly'` is notched as indicated at 4 in Fig. 57,and these notches on the assembled brackets proyturned and secured to'the rim'. :The/inner "i end of each bracket on opposite sidesl thereof.

vide a recess for the ring member l5." There'w y is thus `a ring memberon opposite sides of the brackets and'thebrackets are held :firmly atthe inner endsbv these rings which are y bolted together b v .the bolts6 extending bel tween the legs of each'br'acket. The-rings' are notchedas'will be understood from Fig.

4 at 7 rfor each leg of each bracket and on the inner circumferentialside lthel riiig'is notched Hto receive the cross member 85o eachbracket. f By this construction the liniierl ends of the bmkefsef@firmly had in pos.-

tion and the assembled rings and brackets provide 'a rectangular openended receptacle within which the' rectangular plunger 9 `mavreciprocate. The plunger 9' is indicated in detail inl Fig. 6v and isprovided at-theliinie'r endwith a roller 10 and thel outer end isprof-`v vided with av flange 11 on opposite sides which normally engages'the outer edges 'of I the two oppositely disposed ringniembe'rslimiting inward movement of the plunger.

Springs bear againstv the plunger-atene end 1 andthe opposite end bearsagainst a blockl 12 inserted between the parallel legsv fof the"understood irom'the brackets 2 as will b@ Fig. 2.

The wheel is provided with a hub 13 which may be of any approved typepreferably having a. threaded extension 14 to receive the cap 15. Thespindle of the axle '16, in a driving wheel is carried in this hub member 13. The opposite ends oit the hub member are adapted to have securedthereto dished central plates 1T extending outward toward the rim aswill be understood from Fig. 3. These discs or plates are bolted to thehub by means of bolts 18, the bolts passing through both the discmembers 17 and, in case ofthe driving wheel, are adapted to secure thebra-ke band 19 in position. The cap member 15 is provided with a.circumferential ilange which covers the ends or' the bolts as is shownin Fig. 3 providing a wheel of neat appearance. rlhere is a second pairof discs 20.011 opposite sides of the wheel having a comparatively largecentraly opening 21 through which the hub-member projects and thesediscs orplates 20 are of a' diameter to fit the inner circumference otthe vwheel 1, but are not necessarily attached thereto. These discs 2Olie in contact with the edges of the bracket members and providetherewith a closed receptacle for the spring members 3. The inner discs17 are preferably providedat or near the periphery and around the insidetace of the disc with a. packingmember 22 closing the interstice betweenthe vdiscs 2O and 17 to prevent rdirt g from passing into the interiorof the wheel,

The discs, however, are not connected allor@4 ing therim and the discs2O and brackets to freely move toward or from the hub mem ber 13. 1

The surface of the hub member 13 is round as shown and the rollers 10 ofthe plungers 9 normally Contact the hub member yieldably positioning.the hub centrally of the wheel rim as shown in Fig. 2. Upon mee-ting anobstruction the rim may yield and move ec'- centrically to the hubmember to relieve the wheel and vehicle of road shock. i l

From the above description it may be seen' that the inner disc members157, being bolted to the hub, necessarily rotate therewith and a meansis provided whereby the rotation of the said' discs and hub memberproduce rotation of the rim therewith while allowing movement of the rimtoward and from the hub in the manner described. For this purFr poseeither or both-the disc members 17 may be provided with a socket'23.This socket maybe of any-approved type as tor instance as is shown in` Fig. 9', and a similar socket secured to the rim. 'F or this purpose therim isprovided with ay block to which the Socke/t2?) may be secured.-also the discs or pla-tes 20 arie. notched'as indicatedA at 25 to engageover-the block asshown in Fig. 1; an d allow the socket to be securedthereto "from the outside of the wheel. Connecting` the two sockets is abar 26 provided at each end with a ball 2'? engaging in the socketsrespectively. By this connection, rotation 0i' the disc 17 and hubmember 13 causes rotation of the rim therewith and by reason o12 theball and socket connection allows treedom of movement ot the wheel rimeccentrically relative to the hub. As was statedl here tofore, the wheelmay be provided with the pivoted driving connection on both sides orupon only one side as desired. y

F rom the foregoing description it is evident that, by use ot thebrackets and ring members, the wheel is comparatively light in Weightinasmuch as castings providing the spring receptacles and integralcentralk hub members commonly employed are dispensed withand yet a.construction is securedthat is amply strong for the purpose while lightin weight. For the purpose o'flightness the disc members 2O may be madeot quite thin metal inasmuch asthey are subjected to lit-- tle or nostrain. Vand the hnbI member 13 `(although not here shown) may behollowed out between thewbolt members 18 to secure 'lightness in weight.f

- Having thus fully described my invention what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 'y 1. In a vehiclewheel a rim, a plurality of V shaped brackets secured to the rim andextending inward therefrom, 'the legs of adjacent brackets lying inparallel relation, a pair of ring` members secured to each side olf-thebrackets at the inner ends, ythe Asaid rings and saiddegs of adjacent Vshaped. members providing a substantially rectangu-y lar recejitacle, aplunger-mounted in each receptacle,means limiting the extent of inwardmovement ot the plunger, aspiring inA the receptacle formed between thelegs of. the brackets engaging the plunger, a. hub supported byl theinner-ends of theplungers, and driving connection between-1 the riml andhub. y j I 2. ln a wheel a rim, a plurality of l/` shaped bracketssecuredY tof the rim and eX- tending inwardly therefrom, the legs ofadjacent brackets lying in parallel relation, a

ring shaped member secured to each side of the brackets adjacent theinner ends,-the brackets being notchedto receive Hierin-gs, the outersurfaces of which are practically iiush with the edges of the brackets,a plunger reciprocable in the receptacle formed between the rings andbracket ends,.the plunger khaving flanges normally engaging against therings,-,a coiled springhbetween each of the said parallel legs of thebrackets holding the plungers iny normal position, rollers carried inthe inner edge of the plungers, and a hub centrally positioned; by theplungers; f 'f 3. ln a vehicle wheel,farim, a plurality 0f V shaped.brackets formed oli-flat metal strips having the ends thereof inwardlyturned and secured to the rim, the brackets extending inv Wardly 'fromthe rim and the legs of adjacent brackets being notched on oppositesides7 a pair of ring members secured in the notches respectively andbeing bolted together providing a stiffening member for the brackets andcombining there-With at the end to form an open end receptacle7 aplunger in each of said receptacles having a roller at the inner end andhaving oppositely disposed flanges at the opposite end normally engagingthe outer edges of the ring members, the edges of the flanges beingflush With the outer faces of the rings and edges of the brackets, acircular plate on each *sideV of the rim contact'- ing the edges of thebrackets and providing With the brackets, a closed receptacle, a

spring in each of said 'receptacles engaging the plunger and normallyholding it in co-ntact With the ring members, a hubv member centrallypositioned by the yieldable plun gers, a pair of plates secured to thehub member and overlapping the lirst named plates, and a drivingconnection between the last named plate and the rim.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specic'av tion. v

` J OSEPHMCLAUGHLIN.

